A slew of 11 bills that would eliminate tax credits and exemptions was taking heavy flak from Republicans this morning, who were slowing the measures from getting out of the House Appropriations Committee.

The committee meeting was supposed to be brief, because the bills still are going to be heard at length in the House Finance Committee this afternoon, which historically considers tax policy bills. The House Appropriations Committee was just supposed to refer the bills to the Finance Committee, but Republicans made sure there was plenty of debate on every one of the measures.

“I hope there’s no rush on these bills,” said Rep. Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs, who led Republican opposition to the bills.

Democrats tried to argue the votes on the bill were only procedural, but Rep. Kent Lambert, R-Colorado Springs, said, “Any vote I take in the legislature is more than just procedural.”

Gardner, who offered motions kill every one of the bills, held his hands to his head at times and said he was confused about the committee’s process and wanted to discuss it more, provoking snickers from the committee room filled with lobbyists and longtime Capitol observers.

Rep. Jack Pommer, D-Boulder, said he didn’t believe Gardner, an attorney, was quite as confused as he let on.

“To sit here and pretend this is the first time you’ve ever been here and you don’t know how it works,” Pommer said. “I think you’re just trying to drag this out for some reason, and that doesn’t benefit anybody.”

The hearing room also was packed with several dozen Coca-Cola employees, who showed up in red-and-white company uniforms to watch the committee consider a bill that would remove the sales tax exemption on soda and candy. Some groaned angrily when Pommer said that removing the sales tax exemption on soda wouldn’t result in decreased sales or any lost jobs.

Gardner particularly objected to one bill that would clarify current law to say that sales tax applies to software downloaded off the internet or installed without a disc being purchased. Gardner argued that such software is not “tangible” property as the Department of Revenue asserts.

Gardner called the argument “intellectual dishonesty.”

The committee hearing started at 8:30 a.m., half an hour before the House was to go into session on the floor. Republicans’ objections to the bills were clearly going to ensure the committee would not finish the bills before the House convened.

House Democrats were so irritated by Gardner’s tactics that, instead of excusing him from being on the floor, they called him absent. That prompted Gardner to ask for a recess at one point, and the committee took a five-minute break while lawmakers tried to iron out the issue.

All of the bills, which were passing on a party line vote, are set to be heard at 1:30 p.m. in the House Finance Committee.

UPDATE: The Appropriations Committee finished referring all the bills to the Finance Committee shortly before 11 a.m.

There’s a term for when GOP Rep. Bob Gardner takes the mic to pontificate on, question and argue against legislation his Republican colleagues don’t like. The minority coined it. Gardner takes pride in it. And the House GOP uses it occasionally to delay movement on a controversial bill for as long as he can keep going – which is quite some time.

It’s called “Bobbing.”

And House Minority Leader Paul Weissmann this morning accused Gardner of doing it in a committee considering a series of controversial tax bills. So Weissmann counted Gardner absent during morning roll call on the House floor, though all the other committee members were excused.

“We worked with the minority to make sure the bills had a fair hearing,” Weissmann said. “I didn’t appreciate one member filibustering to prevent that from happening.”

But House Minority Leader Mike May says he didn’t launch a Bob attack in committee, and the legislation up for consideration deserves the thorough going over Gardner is giving it. Upon May’s objection, Weissmann relented and Gardner was counted as excused.

“They singled out one of our members,” May said. “He’s under no instructions to Bob those bills. There’s a reason he’s on that committee. He’s a good attorney and is thoroughly questioning (the bills).”

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.